|
Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Press Release |
|
|
|
BANDITS GO BIG AT KINGS SATURDAY NIGHT! GOING FOR GOLD! |
|
The Bandit Series is going big on the fast high-banked 3/8 mile Kings Speedway this Saturday night August 16th. Kings is the largest and highest speed track on the championship circuit and the Banditos will be on the throttle before heading to the 1/5 mile bullring at Ventura Raceway for the Grand Slam Finale. So this weekend will be the last opportunity to get the bugs worked out before heading south to the racetrack on the beach. The sheer speed of Kings long straights and high banked corners are what attract racers from all over the state to race there and why the facility holds a place in every sprint car fans soul that has raced there or enjoyed races there over the years. Again Peter Murphy leads the series to Kings as the quad point leader, atop the standings with the Bandits, and the Kings track championship and the Santa Maria track championship as well as the Grand Slam Series. The veteran of many sprint car top series including the World of Outlaws, Golden State Challenge and USAC has raised the bar to an unprecedented level for this top flight regional series. He has had his challengers in every contest but has an uncanny way of being among the fastest every race but finishing and doing it with ruthless consistency. The team is always prepared and neither the car nor the driver ever seems to falter. Even when he had his only DNF (did not finish) of the season to an on track incident he still managed 8th. Can a brother or sister get a break here? Heck, after 17 events this mad man has 8 gold's, 6 silvers and 1 bronze medal in his 17 events and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is going to get maybe 8 gold's if he plays his cards right! We need to send Peter over there to represent! Phelps is an awesome man and his accomplishments are record setting but this dude would wet himself (and not in the pool) doing what Murphy makes look so elementary. Seriously, Murphy and Phelps, Phelps and Murphy do have some in common too. Both are very affable chaps (we like 'em) and the competition is keen enough to push them to their best efforts every time they do their thing. And to further the point they both have a certain affinity for rising to the occasion without falter. The big differences are Phelps is on a world stage and we have Peter in our own little microcosm for one. Also any sprint car racer has to take all of their skill and abilities while having to rely on mechanical equipment that doesn't know or care who is at the helm; it is either prepared or not and sound enough or not to be put through its paces on any race night. Everybody has mechanical issues from time-to-time, except for the Tarlton's Tachi Palace speedster it appears. Now to go for the gold Murphy brings his "A" game as golf great Tigger Woods would say, but the Clovis family man is doubtlessly not alone. Danny Sheridan(2), Dan Faria(2), Richard VanderWeerd, Michael Faccinto, Greg Taylor, Rusty Carlile, and most recently Justyne Hamblin have all brought their best to the for and had their own gold medal moments. Each one was unique but the common thread was they were the best that night! Each of these 17 performances had the crowd on its feet and each effort was worthy of the result that was earned. Racing is the fickle sport that has one winner and every one else…well… they gave it their best, right??? This week-end Justyne Hamblin heads to Kings Speedway on a fresh high after her first Gold Medal performance in a full on sprint car. And doing it in such remarkable and memorable fashion, like Carlile's win a couple of weeks ago…success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success as a wise man one said. But of all of those previous winners, only two have repeated beside "the great one". All have shown the ability and desire to do this along with several other great drivers that are or have been close to doing so. Jonathon Logan is a great case in point. This former champion had a strong silver medal finish in the most recent Kings campaign and was arguably the fastest cat on the hot tin roof but "the great one" was in front and catching a car and passing a car cleanly are two different things sometimes. Logan definitely has the stuff to earn his gold but the respect of a champion to do it right. Another two examples are "Fast Albert" Pombo and multiple Champion and fellow Bandito of "the Legend" Al Pombo's lineage, Davey Pombo. Inexplicably they have yet to have their moment on the Gold Medal podium. And it ain't for lack of trying. Albert is second in the Bandit Series Championship and in the runner up spot at both Kings Speedway and its southern cousin at Santa Maria. And he has done it in two different rides…so da man gots mad skills. Davey joined the season a bit late and has not yet managed to get the ultra fast John Iturriria 27 car to its rightful place in victory lane. They are close but just not there for what ever reason. The fact is that Davey has the fire in the belly and the awesome talent that has made him the winningest Bandito ever. So to match the ability, one has to have that intangible and elusive ingredient of luck. There are several other Bandits and those who can come from afar with the talent and ability to earn their gold at the "Place to Race". A banner rookie class and a heady and hungry group of veterans are bound and determined to get their fair share of the gold this week-end. But to do it they will bring their "A" game. There have been inquiries by Victorville sprint car drivers to join us as well as some new comers this week-end. Victorville aces Kenny Perkins and John Aden are looking at making the trek to join us for this week-ends event. Kenny Perkins is a fine young lad who is a third generation racer, dad Will "the Thrill" is a Ventura legend and Grandpa Bill is a proud of both generations. John Aden is already gaining a reputation for not only being a fine young man but a fierce and fast racer who will be competing next year with USAC/CRA for Rookie of the Year honors in the renowned Blair # 12 car. So, who will bring their "A" game and have their gold medal moment this week end at Kings Speedway? Who will take the mighty "MO" to Ventura for the Grand Salami Finale? Come to the "Place to Race" this Saturday night! On the card will and going for their own gold medal moments will be the National Winged Sprint Cars and IMCA Modifieds. The show is certainly going to be top flight. Visit Kathryn's concessions and enjoy promoter Frank Dias' fine hospitality. Family Pack discount packages are available at the gate for a mere $32.00 and there is an alcohol and smoke free section at the south side of the grandstands. Kings Speedway family friendly and family conscious, Children 5 and under are always welcomed and are FREE!!! General admission is value priced at only $15.00 each and the finest grandstands in the state are always general admission! For more info call the bat phone at 559-587-1111. And remember, there is always free parking at Kings Speedway! The pits open at 2pm and participants must be at least 13 yrs or older to enter pits! The drivers meeting will be held promptly at 4:30pm with the grandstands opening at 5:30pm. The show will begin at 6:30 PM with the singing of the National Anthem. So bring your family and friends and a neighbor or two. Make some new friends and tell them about – or better yet bring them to the "Place to Race" Kings Speedway in Hanford California. Stop by and say Hello! See you there!!! |
